Tea at Trianon: Frugal Living Tips From The 1950s

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Frugal Living Tips From The 1950s

From New Trader U:

One of the most impactful frugal living strategies from the 1950s was the focus on home-cooked meals. Preparing meals from scratch using whole ingredients is more cost-effective than relying on pre-packaged or restaurant food and offers significant health benefits. Home cooking allows for better nutrition and portion control by controlling the quality and quantity of ingredients.
Another smart eating habit from the 1950s was the creative use of leftovers. Instead of discarding excess food, thrifty households would repurpose leftovers into new dishes, such as turning Sunday’s roast into Monday’s hash or Tuesday’s soup. This approach minimized food waste and stretched grocery budgets further. Additionally, many families in the 1950s maintained home gardens, which provided fresh, affordable produce and further reduced food expenses. (Read more.)